Damang Gold Mine Ltd says it will set aside a portion of its gold production to finance development projects in its host communities through a community foundation fund.
The company’s Community Relations Manager, Rammy Oboro, said the fund would accumulate over three years before management and traditional leaders jointly identify and prioritise projects for implementation.
Speaking on a special edition of Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme in Tarkwa-Damang, Mr Oboro said the arrangement was intended to ensure that communities affected by the mine’s operations benefit directly from its activities.
He said the communities had been informed of the share of the fund allocated to them, based on the level of impact the mine’s operations had on each area.
“For our foundation fund, we have agreed that for every ounce we produce, we will keep some for development. The catchment communities are aware of the percentage they will get, depending on the level of impact the company is getting from the community,” he said.
Mr Oboro explained that the three-year accumulation period would allow the fund to grow before the company and traditional leaders agreed on priority projects.
He added that the company intended to award contracts to people within the host communities to ensure that the economic benefits of the projects remained in the local areas.
Local employment commitments
Mr Oboro said the initiative formed part of measures introduced following the change in the mine’s management, with the Managing Director directing the Community Relations team to ensure that corporate social responsibility commitments were properly implemented.
He said a corporate social responsibility forum with stakeholders had resulted in an agreement for 60 per cent of the mine’s workforce to be drawn from host communities, with the remaining 40 per cent open to other Ghanaians.
The communities identified as part of the mine’s catchment area are Subri, Damang, Kyekyewere, Huni Valley, Amoanda, Koduakrom, Bompraasu, Twenda, Aboso and Mile 4 Nyamebekyere.
Mr Oboro also mentioned a sub-community within Huni Valley as part of the areas with which the company engages.
He said Damang Gold Mine remained committed to strengthening relations with its host communities and ensuring that its operations translated into tangible development benefits for residents.